Chapter 17: Foreign Policy and National Defense Section 2

Chapter 17: Foreign Policy and National Defense

Section 2

Copyright © Pearson Education, Inc. Slide 2Chapter 17, Section 2

Objectives

1. Summarize the functions, components, and organization of the Department of Defense and the military departments.

2. Explain how the Director of National Intelligence and the Department of Homeland Security contribute to the nation’s security.


Key Terms

• espionage: spying• terrorism: the use of violence to

intimidate a government or a society, usually for reasons that are political or have to do with the ideas and beliefs of a group


Introduction

• How does the Federal Government safeguard this nation’s security?

– The President and the Department of Defense oversee the operation of the nation’s armed forces—the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

– The Director of National Intelligence oversees the operation of the nation’s intelligence agencies.

– The Department of Homeland Security coordinates all national efforts to combat terrorism.


Defense Department

• Congress created the Defense Department in 1947, replacing the War and Navy Departments.

• Today there are nearly 1.4 million men and women on active duty in the military.


Civilian Control of the Military

• The Constitution puts civilian authorities in charge of the military.

– The President acts as commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Congress also has broad military powers.

– The civilian Secretary of Defense, appointed by the President, heads the Defense Department.

– Each military department is also headed by a civilian secretary.


Advisers

• Checkpoint: Who advises the President on military matters?

– The Secretary of Defense is the President’s chief aide and advisor on defense policy.

– The six members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the nation’s highest ranking uniformed officers, also advise the President and other key officials.


Department of the Army

• The U.S. Army is responsible for military operations on land.– The Army defends against attacks on the United

States and acts to protect U.S. interests around the world.

• The Regular Army has more than half a million soldiers on active duty.– Infantry defends, takes and holds land areas with the

support of the artillery and armored cavalry. – Many other units provide needed logistical, medical,

and technical support for this mission.


Department of the Navy

• The Navy’s main responsibility is sea warfare.– Today the navy has some 330,000 personnel.

• The U.S. Marine Corps is a separate, combat land force within the Navy.– The 180,000 Marines are tasked with seizing

and defending naval bases and carrying out other necessary land operations.


Department of the Air Force

• The Air Force is the newest department, established in 1947

• The Air Force has the primary responsibility for military air and aerospace operations.

– Its 340,000 members defend the United States, attack enemy air, ground, and sea forces, strike targets in enemy territory, and provide transport and support for land and naval operations.


Major Military Deployments

• Nearly one fourth of the U.S. armed forces is stationed abroad. Today, the top five areas to which the American military are deployed are in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe.– Why is it necessary to post the armed forces overseas in

order to protect national security?


Director of National Intelligence

• Checkpoint: Why was the Office of the Director of National Intelligence established?

– Intelligence agencies had failed to collect and share information warning of potential terrorist attacks such as Sept 11, 2001.

– The DNI supervises the operations of the 16 agencies in the federal intelligence community.

– Much of this intelligence work involves spying and is done with secrecy - even the budgets are secret.


Dept. of Homeland Security

• The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was created in 2002 to protect America from terrorism.– It coordinates all antiterrorist activities of all public

agencies that deal with domestic security.

• The DHS operates in five key areas:– Border and transportation security– Infrastructure protection– Emergency preparedness and response– Information analysis– Defense against chemical, biological, and nuclear

attack


DHS, cont.

• The DHS works to detect and deter threats by:– Securing U.S. borders– Enforcing immigration laws– Strengthening

transportation security

– Developing detection technology


DHS, cont.

• The DHS works to protect the nation from terrorism by:– Protecting the President and other key officials– Protecting physical and cyber infrastructure– Fighting

financial crimes and identity theft


DHS, cont.

• The DHS leads the response to national emergencies by:– Preparing and helping implement plans to deal

with crises such as natural disasters, health emergencies, and acts of terrorism

– Providing emergency housing


DHS, cont.

• The DHS has to protect America’s:– Food and water supply– Healthcare system– Communications network– Pipelines and power plants– Roads, bridges,

railways, waterways, seaports, and airports

– Skyscrapers and stadiums


Terrorism

• The sheer number of potential targets means that the nation cannot be completely and absolutely protected against all possible terrorist attacks.

• The best that can be hoped for is to stop or minimize the effect of most terrorist attacks, and to bring those responsible for such attacks to justice.


Review

• Now that you have learned about how the Federal Government safeguards this nation’s security, go back and answer the Chapter Essential Question.– How should the United States interact with

other countries?

Documents

Chapter 17: Foreign Policy and National Defense Section 2